Sod edging tool



July 9, 1935.

J. FICKES ISOD'EDGING TQOL Filed March 19, I 1954 LJESSE FICKES INVENTORATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1935 2 UNI-TE o. STATE PArE NT OFFICEsoonnomd'roor. Jesse FiokespCuyahogaFalls; :Ohio Application March :191934; Serial N 716,257 Claimsi (ci ca-+227) This invention relates toapparatus for trim- .ming sod along the edges 0;" l awnsandother soddedareasand is particularly adapted for use in cutting the edges of lawnson an even line @X g in spaced relation simple construction and anadjustable, weighted sod cuttings-knife mounted for sliding movement,therein and horizontal adjustable means for, en-

gaging the edge of a side walk or other element toaccurately positionthe sod cuttingknife, in spaced relation thereto.-

The above objects are accomplished and addi. tional ends are attained bythe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing whereinI haveshown a preferred form of the invention, it being understood thatchanges and modifications may be made or resort had to substitutionswhich come v within the scope of the claims hereunto apindicatedby thelines A4 of Figure 1.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the invention with referenceto the particular adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawing, there isshown a frame composed of a single piece of steel rod, bent to form thehorizontal base portions 5 and 6 which are positioned in parallelrelation to each other. The rod is bent upwardly from the portions 5andt to form the side members i and 3 which are disposed in parallelspaced relation to each other.

The rod is bent back at the upper end of each side member and 3 to formthe horizontal portions 9 and I 9 which are disposed in parallelrelation to the portions 5 and 6. The

relation to the handle ll.

portions; 9 and lllare connected by a horizontal handle memberill. l

The rod is bent at aright angle at the other end ofpthe portion 5 toform a horizontal por tion l2 andis likewise bent at the other end ofthe portion Etc form a horizontal portion is.

The portions I2 and I3 are disposed in parallel I While the portions l2and I3 are in axial alinement, the rod 13 isturned outwardly at theinner end. of said portions to formthe horizontal ends it and I5 whichare disposed in parallel relation to each ther 1. i w r I l The numerall6 denotes a step which is of sheet metal positioned on the portions- H!and i5 withthe endsof the metal turned under toiorm a tubular loop 11 ateach lateral side thereof, The endsgof the strip l9 are continuedinwardly from theloop l! in parallel relation to the upperface offthestep I 6 and the said ends It are'secu'redto the main body of the stepIt by the'fsfcrew bolts] l8 which are entered through suitable pores inthe step 16 and are operated in threaded bores in the end portions It.

The portions I4 and I5 are entered in the loop H and are secured thereinby operating the screws l8. The step It is provided along the inher edgethereof with a downwardly turned tongue 2| which as shown in the drawingis bifurcated to form the prongs 22 and 23. i

The numeral 24 denotes a horizontally positioned, rectangular weightwhich is provided on each end thereof with a plate 25. The plates 25 aresecured to the weight 24 by means of the screws 26 or any suitablefastening means. Each plate 25 is provided at the upper edge thereofwith a tubular extension 21 and each tube 2? is provided with a verticalbore 28 in which is received the side members I and 8.

The weight 24 is provided with parallel, spaced bores 29 and 30 toreceive the lower ends of the handle member 3l. The handle member 3| iscomposed of a single piece of steel rod having a horizontal handle pieceand having side members 32 and 33 turned downwardly in parallel, spacedrelation with the lower ends thereof projecting through the bores 29 and30. Each of the members 32 and 33 is provided with an annular flange 34which engages the upper face of the weight 24 to limit the downwardmovement of the rods 32 and 33 in the bores 29 and 30 as shown in Figure2.

The numeral 35 denotes a knife which is in the form of an angle barhaving a horizontal portion 36 projecting from the upper edge thereof.The

horizontal portion 36 is provided with bores 31 which are positionedtherein to receive the downwardly projecting ends of the rods 32 and 33,when the horizontal portion 36 is positioned flat against the bottom ofthe weight 24. The lower end portion of each rod 32 and 33 is threadedand the nuts 38 are operatively positioned on the lower ends thereof tofirmly secure the handle 3| in position on the weight 24 and to hold theknife in the proper position thereon.

In use, the step I5 is positioned on they sidewalk or similar elevationwith the down turned portion 2| engaging the sidewalk and the prongs 22and 23 are forced downwardly into the .earth by engaging the step ISwith the foot. The step I6 is adjusted to space the knife 35 the properdistance from the down turned portion 2|. The handle I is grasped withone hand and the handle 3| with the other. The handle 3| is thenoperated to raise the weight 24 whereby it will fall by the force ofgravity and by such additional force which may be exerted on the handle3| to drive the knife in the sod. The handle 3| is then raised, thedevice lifted by the handle II and moved to one side, thus'successivelyrepeating the operation to form a clean even cut-extending in spacedrelationto the edge of the side walk, curb or other element engaged bythe downturned portion 2|.

It will be seen that the knife 3| may be reversed to position it closerto the down-turned portion 2| and that the step l6 may be slidlongitudinally on the rods M and IE to adjustably secure the portion 2|in proper, spaced relation to the knife 35.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A sod trimmer of the character described comprising a frame, meansadjustably mounted on thelower portion of said frame to engage asidewalk or the like, said frame including upwardly projecting, parallelside bars, a cross rod connecting said side bars at the upper endsthereof, a weight slidably mounted on said bars andextendingtherebetween, a handle secured to said weight and projectingupwardly with the upper end thereof positioned in the vicinity of saidcross rod, and a knife secured to the lower face of said weight.

2. A sod trimmer of the character described comprising a frame, saidframe including upwardly projecting, parallel side bars, a handleconnecting said side bars at the upper ends thereof, a weight slidablymounted on said bars and extending therebetween, a handle member securedto said weight and projecting upwardly with the upper end thereofpositioned in the vicinity of said first named handle, and a knifesecured to the lower face of said weight.

3. A sod trimmer of the character described, including a frame, parallelside members on said frame, a weight slidably mounted on said sidemembers, a knife secured to the lower side of said weight, and a handlefor manipulating said weight.

4. A sod trimmer of the character described including a frame, a weightmounted for vertical movement on said frame, a knife secured to thelower side of said weight, a handle for manipulating said weight, andmeans on said frame for engaging a sidewalk or other element to locatethe knife in the proper operative relation thereto.

5. A sod trimmer of the character described, including a frame, a footplate adjustably mounted thereon and projecting from one side thereof, aguide blade projecting downwardly from one edge of said foot plate,parallel side members on said frame, a weight slidably mounted on saidside members, a knife secured to the lower side of said weight, and ahandle for manipulating said weight.

JESSE FICKES.

